"D" the Ranter is Colorado's #1 Multi-sport MLBlogger. The Rant is written from a fan's perspective and you can count on "D" to tell you exactly how it is. Tried and Tested…There's a reason the Rant kicks ass in Colorado.
Living the dream as I blog for my team
2/12/09
You can tell it’s getting close, everyone is eager to talk baseball and share their autograph and collection stories. The idea in my last blog entry was “You pick the topic” and I’ll write about it. Most of you chose to ask questions of me. I guess I didn’t take that into consideration.
(<—-Hunter and his Grandpa at his first Rockies game in 1999).
You could have picked any topic besides me, but I’ll roll with this. I’ll answer them all in time. I still have ten days before I’m blogging at the high speed of 65 MPH
This one is from Jere80 (he responded first):
“I’m always interested in how people become fans of teams that didn’t exist when they were young, and therefore what team they grew up rooting for before their current team existed. So maybe you could tell us that about yourself?
Jere, my story is different from most. I was a Yankee fan until my parents moved us up to Canada at age 11 (1978). There was really no organized baseball in my High School and I would have to say most of our Schools budget was spent on indoor sports (mostly hockey), because of the sub-zero (at times) temperatures.
So my exposure to baseball of any sort was severely limited. Remember there was no internet back in the late 70’s early 80’s.
So I grew up with no affiliation to any baseball team.
As a kid I followed the Edmonton Eskimos in the CFL, and it was cool living in the same Province as Wayne Gretzky back when he was an Edmonton Oiler and in his prime.
I don’t really follow hockey anymore but in my opinion it’s still the best sport to see live .
When I finished my Military service I decided to stay in Colorado. It was a that point I knew I was going to be a Bronco and later on down the road, a Rockies fan.
(<—-Balanced Rock inside the Garden of the Gods where Krista and I were married).
I fell in love with Colorado and it would be hard for me to support a team that I couldn’t see play at least every now and then.
Plus, what a nickname..”The Blake Street Bombers” as a former military guy I love that name.
The Broncos, Rockies and later the Nuggets worked out perfect for me at the time, and all within an hours drive.
So as you can see I became a Rockies fan well into my adulthood. Going to a Rockies game to me is like reliving a part of my childhood that I missed due to geographical location. I’m a kid again from the second I walk through those gates. I don’t get that from anything else in the world.
The Rockpile Ranter was born because of the lack of respect the Rockies received during their amazing World Series run. I attended my first game as the Rockpile Ranter March of last year in Tucson. I’ve been on a Rant ever since…
JERE-I’ve come up with another segment of the Rant that I’m going to call:
WHICH ROCKIE AM I ?
I’ll give you some interesting facts about a player (should you choose to accept this challenge), and you will have to figure out who it is.
As always, whoever wins send me your picture and I’ll make you famous…D
This Rockie is well over six feet tall.
He played basketball in High School.
<—-This guy has something to do with the naming of his this player’s High School.
He’s a switch hitter….This one’s easy..Good Luck !
JERE, thanks for “Deciding the Ride” today.
In celebration of pitchers and catchers officially getting back to work, I’ve included in this entry:
My first blog entry ever. It’s from Rockies spring training last year.
Just looking at it makes me think of all that has happened in the last year. WOW…Thanks for being a part of it…D
Matt Holliday almost tags me with a ball
March 25, 2008
I was shooting a video at Spring Training of Matt Holliday when he hit the ball foul off of the first base line and I had no idea that it was coming right at me.
It just missed me.
I didn’t even get the baseball. I hope my snagging improves.
Hey D,
Man, I can never get your questions.
What a cool place to get married. Those picts from spring training make me wish for summer. I’m so ready for hot days sitting at Coors, sipping a beer and cheering on the team. Sigh! How much longer?
I have no idea of who the player is because I was thinking of a pitcher and then you said he was a switch hitter. Oh well, I’m better with the Mets trivia.
Spring Training has arrived!
-Ellie http://mrmetbro.blogspot.com
R-LUV-If I said skinny would that give it away? 🙂 My seats for the first three games of ST are right beside the dugout. I’ll make sure I get some video up for all to see.
ELLIE-I would have been impressed if a Met’s blogger had answered it. I’m counting on a Rockies fan to nail it. Believe me it’s an easy one.
Word is the Super fresh Rockpile Ranter Jersey will be ready around the 20th. This one has REAL lettering and will look amazing I’m sure…D
R-LUV-If I said skinny would that give it away? 🙂 My seats for the first three games of ST are right beside the dugout. I’ll make sure I get some video up for all to see.
ELLIE-I would have been impressed if a Met’s blogger had answered it. I’m counting on a Rockies fan to nail it. Believe me it’s an easy one.
Word is the Super fresh Rockpile Ranter Jersey will be ready around the 20th. This one has REAL lettering and will look amazing I’m sure…D
Ooh, ooh, I love a good challenge! Is it outfielder Dexter Fowler? (of course, looking at the roster to see who the only switch hitter is might be cheating a little 🙂 )
Sue Rants, Raves, and Random Thoughts
Great post, D. I like the look back to your 1st blog.
Baseball’s back!!
I’ve got a great autograph story for you. You’ll have to stop by the blog in a few days to read about it.
Sue, you nailed it. It was Dexter Fowler. He went to Milton High School and was a switch hitter and is well over 6ft tall. Good job. If you’d like send a picture and I’ll post it…D
I might have been born in Florida, but as a kid I was not a Atlanta Braves or a St Louis Cardinals ( They trained in St. Petersburg ) fan. I held the Baltimore Orioles as my team because of one player……….Brooks Robinson.
I got to tell you. We sometimes fear the thought of going back and look at our first posts. It is so funny sometimes how much we learn about blogging in so little time. I did mine on Robert Irvine when it was found out he was padding his resume’ as he was trying to open a cafe here in St. Petersburg. The fiasco started here and wound up claiming him from his show: “Dinner Impossible” for a year.
Wow deja vu moments all over again. Sometimes I wish everyone had a personal film crew their entire life. People would never believe some of things that normal people have happen to them that would feel like a celebrity moment.
RAYSREN-I’ll skip the camera crew following me. I do too much dumb sheet. I will take that camera crew when I catch my first live home run ball this season.
JULIA-Thanks…D
Rockpile Rant 
That’s very cool to hear how you became a Rockies fan. I would love to go to a game at “Coors Field”.
~King of Cali
http://kingofcali.mlblogs.com/
KINGOFCALI-Lets do it brotha, make sure you bring your glove…D
Hey D,
Man, I can never get your questions.
What a cool place to get married. Those picts from spring training make me wish for summer. I’m so ready for hot days sitting at Coors, sipping a beer and cheering on the team. Sigh! How much longer?
I have no idea of who the player is because I was thinking of a pitcher and then you said he was a switch hitter. Oh well, I’m better with the Mets trivia.
Spring Training has arrived!
-Ellie
http://mrmetbro.blogspot.com
R-LUV-If I said skinny would that give it away? 🙂 My seats for the first three games of ST are right beside the dugout. I’ll make sure I get some video up for all to see.
ELLIE-I would have been impressed if a Met’s blogger had answered it. I’m counting on a Rockies fan to nail it. Believe me it’s an easy one.
Word is the Super fresh Rockpile Ranter Jersey will be ready around the 20th. This one has REAL lettering and will look amazing I’m sure…D
R-LUV-If I said skinny would that give it away? 🙂 My seats for the first three games of ST are right beside the dugout. I’ll make sure I get some video up for all to see.
ELLIE-I would have been impressed if a Met’s blogger had answered it. I’m counting on a Rockies fan to nail it. Believe me it’s an easy one.
Word is the Super fresh Rockpile Ranter Jersey will be ready around the 20th. This one has REAL lettering and will look amazing I’m sure…D
wow
Ooh, ooh, I love a good challenge! Is it outfielder Dexter Fowler? (of course, looking at the roster to see who the only switch hitter is might be cheating a little 🙂 )
Sue
Rants, Raves, and Random Thoughts
Great post, D. I like the look back to your 1st blog.
Baseball’s back!!
I’ve got a great autograph story for you. You’ll have to stop by the blog in a few days to read about it.
http://thehappyyoungster.mlblogs.com/
Sue, you nailed it. It was Dexter Fowler. He went to Milton High School and was a switch hitter and is well over 6ft tall. Good job. If you’d like send a picture and I’ll post it…D
I might have been born in Florida, but as a kid I was not a Atlanta Braves or a St Louis Cardinals ( They trained in St. Petersburg ) fan. I held the Baltimore Orioles as my team because of one player……….Brooks Robinson.
I got to tell you. We sometimes fear the thought of going back and look at our first posts. It is so funny sometimes how much we learn about blogging in so little time. I did mine on Robert Irvine when it was found out he was padding his resume’ as he was trying to open a cafe here in St. Petersburg. The fiasco started here and wound up claiming him from his show: “Dinner Impossible” for a year.
Wow deja vu moments all over again. Sometimes I wish everyone had a personal film crew their entire life. People would never believe some of things that normal people have happen to them that would feel like a celebrity moment.
Rays Renegade
http://raysrenegade.mlblogs.com
I liked learning how you became a fan D! And I enjoyed your first blog!
Julia
http://werbiefitz.mlblogs.com/
RAYSREN-I’ll skip the camera crew following me. I do too much dumb sheet. I will take that camera crew when I catch my first live home run ball this season.
JULIA-Thanks…D